Liam Fox is a twat
www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11056581

:edit: I don't give a shit about the videogame; I dislike his implication that it's not "acceptable to recreate the acts of the Taliban against British soldiers" but vice versa is fine.
( Captain V, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 12:57, 85 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

Wahey
It won't be banned, and he's misinformed. He's such a plum.
(Himjim died a little more inside on, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 12:59, Reply)

Thank you
I did not want to have to post my opinion of this on talk
(The Cat Hater punch a cow for the planet, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 12:59, Reply)

My post on talk was better.

(PsychoChomp, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:13, Reply)

He should stick to doing the top 40
on the radio. He was rubbish on that Pop Star telly show too.
( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:01, Reply)

I like this.
He's not even a REAL fucking doctor, you know.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:26, Reply)

Nothing
like making a snap judgement call when you know nothing about the subject.
(Set your faces to Stunned Bigly, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:04, Reply)

It's a little reactionary of him
and as everybody knows, giving a game noteriety in no way helps its sales, so he's probably shot his own foot there.

On the other hand, EA are playing a little close to the knuckle here. Games companies held off for a long time on making games about Vietnam because it was a bit recent for the American primary audience. This war's still going on and they think it's ok to release a game about it? Of course there's going to be a reaction. I rather suspect they were banking on it.
( Kroney, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:04, Reply)

the Americans lost the war in vietnam though
this one is still undecided.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:13, Reply)

Vietnam was a draw wasn't it?
This one is going the same way. Creditable draw and back to the pavilion for cuke sandwiches.
(Set your faces to Stunned Bigly, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:16, Reply)

haha
c +n
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:18, Reply)

Depends on how you define a victory in war.
But generally no the americans didn't achieve their objectives in Vietnam and so it was a defeat.
(PsychoChomp, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:19, Reply)

If being forced to run away
is considered a draw, then somebody needs to have a chat with the umpire.
( Kroney, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:29, Reply)

C'mon Umpire!
They were hiding in the bushes and shooting at us!
(Set your faces to Stunned Bigly, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:35, Reply)

Americans defeated
by use of tactics shocker.
( Kroney, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:39, Reply)

If he was talking about banning adults
from demeaning themselves by playing computer games, and from posting shit like 'I invaded a new galaxy on Spaceship-bender 9 last night, it was awesome' on the internet, I'd be 100% behind it.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:25, Reply)

That's because you're a fool.

(PsychoChomp, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:28, Reply)

My life story backs up your judgement entirely.
I have no argument against this.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:30, Reply)

You should play more games then.
What sort of computer do you have I'll be able to suggest a game even you would like.
(PsychoChomp, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:32, Reply)

'The Warriors' game
looked OK. Other than that I'm a 'Daley Thompson's Decathlon' man all the way.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:33, Reply)

I think you should give one of the Civilization games a go,
I bet you've always wanted to be Ghengis Khan.
(PsychoChomp, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:34, Reply)

Oh damn! I'm always playing Civ IV
I never use the slavery advance though, as I have an ethical policy of only slaughtering the free.
( Bartleby A dead man on vacation, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:40, Reply)

I've been playing Civ 1
one day I will progress
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:44, Reply)

That's so 20th Century.
Upgrade or be left behind.
( Bartleby A dead man on vacation, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:45, Reply)

Civ five is out this month

(PsychoChomp, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:46, Reply)

Must...... resist........ temptation.

( Bartleby A dead man on vacation, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:48, Reply)

temptation cock
(Bret Mong Keys Eggs has wet his weapon, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:51, Reply)

when my computer can handle it, I will buy IV
until then, tonight I pick up my Games Cube so I can play more Ocarina of Time
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:47, Reply)

Civ 2 ws the best
althogh I have never played any of the other Civ games
(Bret Mong Keys Eggs has wet his weapon, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:48, Reply)

In truth
I'd rather read a history book than pretend to be Genghis Khan on a computer - it just seems silly to me, I'm afraid.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:51, Reply)

Civ has an awful lot of reading involved if you want to,
every major discovery in human history has a massive entry on it's effects. All the wonders of the world you can build have a ton of background information in them.
I bet if you stopped thinking "this is silly" for an hour or two you'll enjoy it.
Plus you can get it for like £5 if you look around.
(PsychoChomp, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:58, Reply)

Until the Romans fly stealth bombers over your capital,
then you'll hate it.
(PsychoChomp, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 14:00, Reply)

That really doesn't sound like my cup of tea.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 14:07, Reply)

I was more of an Activision Decathlon kinda guy
Summer Games was also highly addictive.

I used to work as a games tester for an ill fated American company and was paid to sit about all day playing games and eat free pizza. The flipside was it kinda put me off gameplaying as a hobby/enjoyable pursuit for life, plus I gained about 2 stone. The only games I can stomach these days is the odd blast on the Wii, with the kids. Mostly I prefer real world time wasting pursuits such as darts, table football and prozzie worrying.
(Cancer Joy was short lived, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:40, Reply)

darts is fucking brilliant
I spent a pleasant evening on friday eating a magnificent crab and chorizo risotto, drinking beer, smoking spliffs and alternating between darts and Mario kart. It was most excellent.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:42, Reply)

Good man
Did you buy another set of darts? Any decent checkouts?
(Cancer Joy was short lived, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:44, Reply)

not yet. I'm skint as a motherfucker at the moment
I've been gradually recapturing my skills as I hadn't played in a couple of years or more. Started off awful, but by the time we finished on Friday I wasn't doing too badly.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:47, Reply)

Argos had a decent set for under £7

(Cancer Joy was short lived, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:49, Reply)

I'll bear that in mind come payday then

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:51, Reply)

Don't buy darts from Argos. Go to a proper shop and build a set from components. You will spend about 16 - 20 quid but it's worth it.
( SteveFrench Cardio is for homo's. do you even lift bro?, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 14:14, Reply)

it's not worth it because I'm not some kind of pro
they will be a spare set and I am fucking skint
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 14:31, Reply)

There's a good one in Whitechapel Sainsbury's.
I'll get you a picture.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:52, Reply)

Ding Ding

(Cancer Joy was short lived, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:55, Reply)

Poor onomatopoeic representation, Cancer Joy.
Everyone knows it's more of a short "bip".
(Cave Duck, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 14:00, Reply)

He's having a flashback to 1970s London buses.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 14:03, Reply)

It was so real man.
I could smell stale piss and fear
(Cancer Joy was short lived, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 14:05, Reply)

and Watney's.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 14:06, Reply)

"unexpected item in bagging area" would be more accurate

(lkjshaglkasjdhglkhjz lkcvl; g;aodh;owih, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 14:06, Reply)

'Bowienator 4000's not out til Christmas

(Bret Mong Keys Eggs has wet his weapon, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:36, Reply)

But he's right
The Taliban are bad, nasty people who kill the good, brave soldiers of the free world. The game can cause confusion and a false sense of "brotherhood" between us, the democratic and fair people, and them, the terrorist and killers of fathers and husbands. By playing the game as a Taliban, some stupid might get to think that Taliban are people too, that they might be fathers or husbands themselves, rather than the dirty terrorists that they are. They don't suffer, they don't have feelings, they only want to kill our brave men and women and make everybody a muslim.
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:38, Reply)

and I thought I was a shit troll

(The Cat Hater punch a cow for the planet, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:41, Reply)

Do you live under a bridge?

( Bartleby A dead man on vacation, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:43, Reply)

I do, and I susist on a diet of nothing but fresh Billy Goats Gruff

(The Cat Hater punch a cow for the planet, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:46, Reply)

Is that a euphemism for donkey spunk?

( Bartleby A dead man on vacation, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:52, Reply)

yes

(The Cat Hater punch a cow for the planet, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:54, Reply)

Ewwwww.
Fuck off Bert.
( Bartleby A dead man on vacation, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:57, Reply)

Hello Bert

(The Cat Hater punch a cow for the planet, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 14:08, Reply)

I for one
Will not be buying this Muslim propaganda.

Was it GTA where I can shoot policemen?
(Set your faces to Stunned Bigly, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:42, Reply)

and they are real policemen too
there are real people hooked up to the virtual world like in the matrixes
(The Cat Hater punch a cow for the planet, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:56, Reply)

The Taliban _are_ bad people, horrific on so many levels.
Can you picture what it would be like living under their rule? Regular stone'ings for women who have the audacity to go outside the four walls of their house. Homosexuals beaten and murdered. I read a book about a women who was raped and got preganent, so her own family tied her up, covered her head with a bin bag, dowsed it in petrol and set fire to it. HER OWN FAMILY. The entire country is currupt, they're the biggest exporter of iligel opiets in the world. They're hard too, very hard, they took on and won the Russians, and handed out serious damnage to the 'western' forces.

And the soldiers _are_ brave, imagine what it's like to walk down a road and knowing at any moment an IED can go off, or a shot fired. Imagine a crowd of 100s of people all shouting and throwing stones at you and 11 of your mates. Sure, you could take them all on, you've got guns against stones, body armer against rags, but if you fire just one shot wrong, you can be put in jail. There are normally women and children in these crowds, imagine the guilt you would feel if you killed one?
( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 14:01, Reply)

And because they're so bad
We have to go there and kill them all. And it's bad if they kill us, but not if we kill them. For them, we're the horrific ones, with no morals. It's not about killing them, the people living under their rule has to realize that there is another way, and take them down. Foreigners telling you how to live, even if it seems a better way of living, are never welcome. You'd think we'd have learnt that by now.
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Mon 23 Aug 2010, 14:09, Reply)

It's a tricky call though, innit?
Sure, you rarely get the result you want you want if you go in and "regime-change" 'em in the face, but does that mean you leave a large proportion of the population living in horrific circumstances while saying to yourselves "well, they've got to do it for themselves, haven't they?" Does it make a difference if they're being oppressed with weapons that you happily gave to their overlords a couple of decades ago so they could fight off the Russians? How does that affect your asylum policy? If all the dissidents are in your country, who's left to fight the battles? Sure, we had our revolutions way back when, but it was quite possible to flee your homeland then and return with an army lent to you by a friendly power or made up of hired mercenaries - not too likely to happen these days, is it?

Tough.
(wellgroomedwookiee is a filthy-minded hobgoblin, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 14:48, Reply)

I think he has a bit of a point.
I don't agree with him, but he's right that some people, like those who have been personally effected by the War On Terror, could find that offensive.

He's wrong to call a banning of the game though, or if he does, he should extend that to other forms of media.
( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:50, Reply)

And what about the Afghan people?
They've been affected by all this; is it ok to play a game in which the objective is to kill them all?
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:53, Reply)

It's ok with the Americans
and they buy more games than the Afghans. EA care about money, not morals.
( Kroney, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:57, Reply)

That is true
By the time the Afghans have PCs and time to play games, the war will be so far in the past that they'll probably laugh at the story and the silly graphs.
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:58, Reply)

Yup, of course they have, but I can pretty much guarntee this game would be banned there too, even if the local population had the means of playing the game.
It was a crime to watch the World Cup outside of the Green Zone, let alone play a game like this.

I agree that he's wrong on this one, but he does have a point.
( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 14:04, Reply)

Yes.
I played a game the other day and killed all the black people. It was only a game. I love chess.
( Bartleby A dead man on vacation, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 14:05, Reply)

banning is not the answer
I reckon that it is a tiny bit distasteful while the war is still continuing for it to be released. It smacks of seeking controversy and a calculated whiff of scandal
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:53, Reply)

Yup
noteriety abslutely does not create interest in games. Facts.
( Kroney, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:57, Reply)

I know notoriety sells games
obviously. I'm not caalling for a ban or calling it sick. I'm saying I find it a tad distasteful. But then I'm not the target market
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:59, Reply)

Yeah, i wasn't disagreeing with you
you pretty much mirrored what I said earlier :)
( Kroney, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 14:21, Reply)

There is a game called "Comand and Conquer: Generals", it was a really good game in the C&C series....
... it pitted 'middle east' type army against an oriental and USA ones.

It was in development for years, at least 3 of them, but it came out a month or two after we first went into Iraq, and the opening level of the USA campaign saw you going through Bagdad with the arch made of two swords.

That had more contraversy than this, it was a coincidance that release dates co-incided with going into Iraq.
( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 14:06, Reply)

A bit like
building a mosque/muslim drop-in centre two blocks from Ground Zero?
(Set your faces to Stunned Bigly, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 14:13, Reply)

Again
I do feel that that was a mite lacking in empathy and pure common sense. Again however under the rights of religious freedom and tolerance I'd support it
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 14:20, Reply)

How many blocks away is acceptable to you?

( Undulating Tentacles of Love getting fun down to acceptable levels, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 14:27, Reply)

3
World of difference - one block.

Especially when several commercial aircraft are slamming into the sides of an office block.
(Set your faces to Stunned Bigly, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 14:36, Reply)

I'd only buy that game if
it included the ninjas.

We saw two ninjas with glasses on at a service station yesterday. I'm still wondering why they always have a driver though - maybe their ninja skills only extend to childrearing and ninja-ing.
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 13:55, Reply)

I thought they were organic mobile post boxes.
No wonder I got chased down the Edgware Road after repeatedly jabbing a woman in the eye with a Reader's Digest coupon.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 14:06, Reply)

Reader's Digest?
No wonder they ran after you.
Were you selected to win 25,000?
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 14:11, Reply)

I couldn't believe my luck:
I hadn't even entered the competition!!!! I've already borrowed the money in a loan secured against my house and spent most of it on visits to West End nightclubs. I've finally 'made it'. Wow.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 14:15, Reply)

Brilliant.
Do you get to choose whether you receive the money in the form of a novelty oversized cheque presented by June Whitfield, or as notes fanning out of the top of a commemorative glass tankard?
(Cave Duck, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 14:29, Reply)

Yeah but the Taliban are the baddies.

( Undulating Tentacles of Love getting fun down to acceptable levels, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 14:22, Reply)

OH, SO YOU HAVE TIME TO POST THIS
but you didn't have time to put the recycling out this morning. Eh? EH?!
( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 14:55, Reply)

Heaven forbid that the defence Minister should express a personal view of dissatisfaction with a computer game that trivialises a war involving British troops which has yet to end.

( WormuIus, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 14:56, Reply)

I don't see what the big issue is
everyone knows that gaming reached its zenith in 1991 when Gremlin released Supercars 2 on the Amiga.

FACT
( Colonel Dracula Two manky hookers and a racist dwarf, Mon 23 Aug 2010, 15:12, Reply)